Team photographer Eric Lars Bakke has been working with the Broncos for 26 years. His photography blog will serve as a unique look from the perspective of an NFL photographer, periodically updating the site with tales from the sidelines, some of his favorite photos and the stories behind them. Below is his first entry.
NFL seasons start out with many unknowns. Who will be the starting running back? Who will be number two at QB? How loaded is such and such team?
For me one of the biggest factors has always been, “What is the weather going to be in such and such town?”
As an NFL photographer you always want to be prepared. Seldom have I been out-guessed by the weather, though I would have kindly obliged to offer up a better scenario on many occasions.
This time of year obviously you know it is going to be HOT and there is a good likelihood it will be wet due to thunderstorms building as the day progresses.
In all the years I have covered opening day games, I have had sweltering heat, I have toyed with rain showers and quick thunderstorms, but nothing in virtually 27 years compared to the opener in Jacksonville.
Knowing it was going to be hot, no, actually nearly unbearable even for Florida standards, I paced myself early covering pregame situations because I knew it would take a lot of energy to maintain for four quarters of football.
Even before kickoff the temperature was pushing 100 degrees and the heat index reported by many outlets was 105.
I had consumed five bottles of water and a Gatorade long before kickoff. As I am standing waiting to cover a requested photo of Media Relations Director Patrick Smyth in pregame, small rivers of perspiration were trickling down my back, over my eyebrows and behind my ears (you get the idea).
It’s the combination of the heat and the humidity that wears on you the quickest. We heard from Head Coach Josh McDaniels all week before the game encouraging players to hydrate in an effort to beat the heat game day.
Much like altitude, it takes days to acclimate to that type of environment.
I truly began to understand the test of the athletes.
I was hydrated. I was dressed properly. I had access to additional water and Gatorade along the sidelines and yet sweat was pouring into my eyes as the first quarter started.
I darn near felt like a wet noodle.
Here I am trying to conserve energy and the players are going full tilt.
All I can say is the Gatorade towels supplied along the bench saved the day.
I slung one to my equipment belt around my waist dampening my forehead and eyes continuously between plays.
And when the late third quarter deluge showed up, I used one as a rain hat-lens cover.
Sure, I had rain covers for the cameras and lenses, but as an associate proclaimed, “Why worry about a rain jacket, we were soaked before the game started!”
-Eric Lars Bakke, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Eric Lars Bakke
I like the shot of Orton!
I wonder if DT will play on Sunday for a few downs. From what I see from the injury report Royal has been shown as LP.
31-13 Broncos win on Sunday!
Great pics! Can’t wait to see more. Thanks
GO BRONCOS 2K10
Despite the devistation to our OL, I’ll say 27-23 Broncos. Chances are pretty good that Tyler Polumbus will be starting TL for Seahawks as #1 TL is definitely out and #2 had only limited practice. A major plus fort our DL and LB rushing chances.
Nice addition to the blog, having some “artistic” type of pics quality here is a real plus, even though these were mainly in the rain, you can see their quality, like the sharp football on the otherwise blurry Orton pic, looks like 3D. Good size pics too, thanks blog administration, keep up the good work.
As for the game score predictions, keep them coming, only two days left, got 17 in so far, pretty good first week.
Lindsay Jones reports:
The NFL quarterback who led the league last weekend in big-play passes — those 25 yards or longer — wasn’t Peyton Manning, Tom Brady or the other usual suspects. It was Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton, who tossed five such completions in Sunday’s opener at Jacksonville.
Granted two of these passes were YAC, but still three were legitimate 25 yard throws or more, longest 41. I have to give kudos when it’s due, we have been here long enough pleading for our Broncos to stretch out the field and we are now obviously doing it. McD does some good things in the right direction, it just seems to always take him a long time to get there, better late than never is my motto with him. Looking to a lot more of that in the future, we keep that going plus the O line gets healthy, the rookies start gelling and the RB’s get healthy too and we will be able to run the ball a lot easier, that’s the McD way, throw to set up the run, not the other way around. But obviously with the O line and the running corp the way it is, it’s a lot of ifs, the season of “ifs” keeps on going, how many answers will we get? At least we have our first one, McD and Orton are indeed willing to throw it deep, that question has been answered.
A real funny tidbit from Woody’s early Bronco days:
This story is so old it can be told now. After the Broncos were beaten 17-3 at Houston in 1976, I ripped the team’s offense. The next day I got a call from a screaming man who blamed and cursed Ralston. I asked his name.
He was the Broncos’ offensive coordinator.
Hahahaha….. poor Ralston, even the OC had enough, no wonder 76 turned out to be Ralston’s last year and the next year Red came in and so did our first SB appearance.
I’m all willing to give Maroney a shot (like some here say we must do), just like I did with Brown, what in the heck good did that do!?!?! but I’m certainly not going to hold false hopes, echoing my thoughts here is what Legwold reports:
I polled a few pro personnel people around the NFL on Thursday to get some thoughts. Some of the scouts said they agreed with that assessment, but added that Maroney routinely took hits flush, which caused injuries. So he never made more than six starts in any season with the Patriots. And as last season drew to a close, a season in which he struggled with fumbles for the first time in his career, he appeared to lose confidence. The Patriots benched him for the regular-season finale against Houston and took him out early in their playoff loss against the Ravens.
Doesn’t sound like a young man on the way up to me… I know, I know, a change of scenery is maybe all he needs, ok with me, I’ll just add this “if” to my list, what the heck… LOL.
For the ones who were blogging here at the beginning of the year, check out the last post on the “getting started” blog, Olap2009 is BAAAAAACK!!!! I got a kick out of that, and funny how he didn’t want to take a front seat, he went all the way back to an old blog to speak his peace once again, LMAO.
Bay, most of the time I agree with you but I gotta say you are being quite the pessimist when it comes to this trade. I’m not sure about it either, but he isn’t here to be the number one back like he was most of the time in New England. Another thing is that Coach has worked with him and he knows the system. The last thing that is getting me is that everyone is crying over this 4th rd pick, I know we got two of the best players in the NFL by drafting them in the 4th round but honestly how often does that happen? (picking up a pro bowl player in the 4th! I’m not being disrespectful I just don’t see eye to eye with you on this one bay.
That’s all for now folks!!!
Correct me if I’m wrong, you were one of the ones excited about the Brown acquisition a couple weeks ago, right?
Basically at this time of the year most secondary trades turn out to be garbage band aid fixes, guys who no one else wants, only huge trades like if the Vincent Jackson trade gets done can produce, that is just the way it is, most people involved in the league feel that way too, that’s why I inserted what Legwold’s research turned out. Fans are different, they are ALWAYS hoping for the best of EVERYTHING, I try to take it a step further is all, like analyzing it from a neutral point of view, just my style, no cheerleader here, just facts, you know that, you’ve been here long enough.
Baylin pencil me in for a Broncos win 27-20,and I don’t know about Maroney,gimme an update on that rumuor if you don’t mind please.
BFE
Glad to see Olap back,LOL.
BFE is back, what the heck happened to you man, I hope nothing bad. First time here since the first loss, you couldn’t handle it? LOL/kidding.
Maroney is no rumor, he is now a Bronco, we gave up a fourth and got a sixth in that trade.
No just had some personal stuff to take care of,but that was a crushing defeat,but we’ll bounce back this week.Maroney is a tough RB that we can definitely use right now,I just hope we don’t cut White and give him a shot next year,whats the lowdown on a contract and $$$$$ for Maroney??
And by the way for the record I’m officially a Kyle Orton fan now LOL,he played a great game,maybe we keep him long term,if he keeps improving,to be honest I didn’t think he had it in him,but he looked like a pro bowl QB Sunday,I think he’s making vast improvements in all phases of his game,which is a great plus for the Broncs.
No word on that that I know of, they may not even have gotten to that point because he is hurt with a thigh injury and hasn’t even practiced yet, I’m sure it will be close to league minimum though, it is reported the Pats were about ready to cut him, hence some folks here thinking giving up a 4th for him was not warranteed, I included .
Yeah, without the shadow of a doubt, he is our man for now, he is definitely like 100% more comfortable and in charge out there. It’s funny though when he does the Manning thing before the snap, but it doesn’t work quite as smoothly yet, but he is seeing things, understanding them and trying to react accordingly, changing plays or re-aligning his players, just leading his team, that’s good to see.
Let me re-phrase, I would HOPE that Maroney will be paid near league minimum, maybe we have to pick up his current salary with the Pats, Idk.
Yeah I agree also.Maroney can get short yardage,when he’s not injured,I have never liked his running style and think a 4th round pick is too much for a injury proned RB(Hell we seem to have too many of them already),but that’s my 2 cents,but what can we do but hope it works out for the best.GO BRONCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I personally think McD needs to learn the value of a draft pick,we need them to build a new Dline,IMO,we’re pretty young at all other positions.I just wished we could keep Clady,Harris,and Kuper on the field at the same time.
Hey Baylin have a good one man,and I’ll talk atcha later dude.
Thanks for the info,we’ll hire you as the new Bronco insider on the blog,and I appreciate you diggin’ up info to keep us informed dude,thanks a lot!!!
I think anymore we only have Lance Ball who seems to stay healthy, maybe they outta take that into consideration and give him more playing time, because with Bucky- Moreno- Maroney it’s like living in precarious times. Maybe with just 30 % of the carries each is the best way to make them last.
Man, they never show the Broncos games out here in Cali. ARRRRGGGGHH I don’t want to spend $300 to get the NFL package on Direct TV. It’s a total monopoly and it stinks. Guess I’ll have to use the internet but it always fails at one point or another.
Go Broncos.. 24-10 in the W column.
Why don’t you go have lunch in a sports bar and watch your Broncos, many have all the games on, they buy the NFL package so you don’t have to, that’s what I do, not the lunch part, I do the draft beer part, haha.
I still want Charles Scott. By the way, I’m attending my first ever Bronco game this weekend!
Lucky dog, soak it all in.
Good point baylin. That can be hard for me with the wifey and 2 year old. I guess I need to lengthen the leash I’m on. lol And by the way, I’d be doing it the draft beer way too. haha
If your wife doesn’t give you three hours a week to watch your Broncos tell her you are thinking of picking up golf with the boys, that’s a minimum four hour game, haha.
Ya footballMANIAC, you are a lucky dog. Here I am complaining that I don’t get the Broncos on my TV at home and you are going to the game. I’m totally jelous. Root extra loud for me buddy.
HAHAHA, thanks for the advice Bay. You are much wiser than me.
Just been around the block a few times with a couple of wives is all, three to be exact, I had to find the one who wouldn’t interfere with my Broncos game watching, LOL.
Haha, I’m trying to train my wife, but she is pretty tough to break in. My two year old boy is easy, some of his first words were GO BRONCOS….
Hahah I love it.
For those of you wondering, It appears DMT is set to roll on Sunday. Willis being the gameday casualty! allegedly of course…
Big D 44 don’t feel bad bc they never show the Broncos games doen here in New orleans. They are quick to show a Cowboys and or Bears game though.
No sndvl say it aint so about Willis! He is gonna do big special things for us. Bay you’re the Football Guru so who would you start this week in fantasy….. Rivers or Orton?
Tough one, basically a toss up, Orton will get good numbers against the Seahawks because just like the niners we will find it very difficult to run the ball, Rivers will get good numbers because he will be playing in good weather conditions at home against Jacksonville and he wants to show that the weather had a lot to do with his so so performance in KC, so I would base my decision on who has produced more in the past and I would pick Rivers, but it is your decision bud, don’t be mad if mine turns out wrong.
And yeah I’ve had Willis’ back since the first of the year, already talking about that in the newest blog.
My two cents, i would play Rivers as well. The interesting thing about orton on the other hand is that, altho he throws INTs like any other QB he is less likely to throw INTs than most QBs so you will never get negatives, on the other hand, other QBs, rivers for example, will probably get more TDs. TRB out…
Thanks fellas I was leaning a little more towards Rivers but just had to get some more input.
Bay what you said about the Jags D and him being home was one of the reasons I was headed towards Rivers.
Yeah 1nOnlyTRB Orton throwing fewer INT’s is what had me pondering him. I think I’m gonna roll with Rivers bc he will have a major attitude and chip on his shoulder. Along with not wanting to start off 0-2.
Thanks again Bay and TRB for the input
Now on to our Broncos…..
I won’t give a score prediction but I say our Special Teams will show off this Sunday and make up for last Sunday. I think we will break a punt or kickoff for a TD, and then almost break a 2nd for a TD. The home crowd is way over due for some excitement.
I wanna see this “smart” team that McD is preaching. Bonehead penalties like McBean’s back-to-back facemasks are just infuriating. That shifted momuntum almost as much as the kick returns.
If we are evens on penalties and turnovers, I think we’ll smash them up on Sunday.
27-10 for me Bay.
21-24 Denver.
Not a pretty game but a W!
bay, is very difficult to start a debate with you so I’m going straight to my question. What is the one thing that denver will have to change to get ten wins. But only one thing if that is even possible!!!
Manny, one thing: Wait until next year, haha.
Sorry you find it difficult to chat with me, but I want you to know I think you are doing great since you gave up the caps and I actually like reading your posts, it’s a work in progress just like anything else, stick with it.
It it impossible for me to narrow down progress needed to one thing since this year is the year of the “ifs”, so many question marks, but on the field I would say the O line needs to gel with whoever plays, and off the field McD needs to mature in his handling of players. I think both those things would have equally the biggest single chance at improving our team right away, but 10 wins is still a lot to ask in my opinion.